Dissecting the Universe:

Astronomical Spectrometry

By Scott Hesser

shesser@wheatoncollege.net

 

A study presented to the faculty of Wheaton College

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for

graduation with Departmental Honors in physics.

Norton, Massachusetts

May 17, 2001

 

Acknowledgements: Professor Tim Barker, Professor John Collins, Spencer Zawasky, Lori Agan, James Eberhart

 

Table of Contents

1Introduction

2 Properties of a Spectrum

2.1 Diffraction and a Spectrum

2.2 Resolution of a Spectrum

2.3 Dispersion of a Spectrum

2.4 Blazing

2.5 The SGS Gratings

3 Introducing the SBIG SGS

3.1 The Tilt Problem

3.2 Changing Gratings

3.3 Wavelength Calibration

3.4 Order Overlap

3.5 Software

4 At the Scope

4.1 The SGS on the Scope

4.2 Some More Tips

5 Preparing the Spectra

5.1 A Brief Look at the Nature of Digital Images

5.2 Pixel Depth and Image Format

5.3 Processing with Iris

6 Preparing the Profile

6.1 Visual Spec and Wavelength Calibration

6.2 Radiometric Correction

6.3 Normalization

7 Projects and Measurements

7.1 Spectral Classes

7.2 Intensity Classes

7.3 Atmospheric Lines

7.4 Methane Absorption

7.5 Orion Nebula

References

Appendix: Argon Discharge Lamp Reference Lines

 

Download in Word 2000 format (2,606KB)

 

Links

Backyard Spectroscopy by Maurice Gavin

Visual Spec

Iris

SBIG

Wheaton College Observatory

My Personal Home Page

 

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